The incident which led to the greatest sporting commentary of all time (according to 5 Live listeners): 'He just couldn't get his leg over'

It is the summer in which cricket has captured the winning habit, knocking football off the front and back pages. Yesterday a famous clip from the Test Match Special archives that apparently owed more to the Goon Show than the world of cricket, was voted the greatest sporting commentary of all time by listeners to Radio 5 Live.

It eclipsed the most famous moment in English football - Kenneth Wolstenholme's immortal line, "They think it's all over" as Geoff Hurst scored in the last minute of the 1966 World Cup final.

The description by Jonathan Agnew, the BBC's cricket correspondent, and the late Brian Johnston of Ian Botham's freak dismissal in a Test match against the West Indies in August 1991, became an instant radio classic.

Botham had lost his balance while trying to hook a bouncer from fast bowler Curtly Ambrose, and as he tried desperately to avoid trampling over his wicket, he stepped over the stumps and in doing so flicked off the bail. Aggers - as he is known to Test Match Special aficionados - said: "He just couldn't quite get his leg over." The pair dissolved into helpless laughter, as Johnston struggled to continue reading the scorecard, pleading: "Do stop it, Aggers!"

The final words of the clip: "I've stopped laughing now," were used as the pay-off line of the BBC's obituary of Johnston in 1994.

Yesterday, Agnew said: "It was Johnners who made it with those ridiculous squeaks ... and tears pouring down his face. He was determined to soldier on."

After Test Match Special went off the air, Johnston was cross with himself for losing control and producer Peter Baxter was unhappy. But the public reaction was different as the clip was replayed. A London drama school now uses it as an example of what not to do when overcome by a fit of giggles.

The commentary was selected by Radio 5 Live listeners from a shortlist of nine. It received 78% of the vote, convincingly beating rugby union commentator Ian Robertson's description of Jonny Wilkinson's winning drop goal for England in the 2003 world cup final.

Only 8% selected Wolstenholme's 1966 commentary, which was broadcast in Westminster Abbey at the memorial service for winning captain Bobby Moore.

Wolstenholme was proud of the piece of broadcasting which coined a phrase that has entered English folklore, but he died in 2002 feeling it had overshadowed the rest of his career.

Ian Robertson on Radio 5 Live as Jonny Wilkinson's drop goal took England to victory over Australia in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final

· 'I don't care what you're doing, stop it!'

Alan Green commentates Great Britain's rowing gold in the men's coxless fours at the 2000 Olympics on Radio 5 Live

· 'Maradona ... turns like a little eel'

Argentina's win over England in the 1986 World Cup will be remembered for Diego Maradona's "hand of God", but here Bryon Butler describes his solo goal, dribbling past most of the England team

· 'Just couldn't quite get his leg over'

Jonathan Agnew and Brian Johnston dissolve into helpless laughter after Aggers's unfortunate description of Ian Botham's dismissal by the West Indies at the Oval in 1991 when he dislodges the bails as he stumbles over the stumps

· 'Get in there Frank!'

Harry Carpenter, BBC TV's boxing commentator, backs Frank Bruno against Mike Tyson in a world heavyweight title fight in Las Vegas in 1989

· 'You need a telescope to see the rest!'

Shergar wins the Derby in 1981 and Peter Bromley, on BBC Radio, provides a memorable description of the victory margin

· 'They think it's all over - it is now!'

Kenneth Wolstenholme's commentary of the World Cup final at Wembley in 1966: England have just taken a controversial 3-2 extra-time lead over Germany, when Geoff Hurst gets his hat trick